Effects of Alitretinoin on Quality of Life of Patients Having Chronic Hand Eczema: An Observational Study

Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is a common disease that has a major impact on patients' health and on society. Aim The purpose of this observational, open-label study was to assess the efficacy of treatment with 30 mg/d of oral alitretinoin on the quality of life (QoL) in a group of patients affected by CHE. Methods This study included 15 patients, all suffering from severe CHE refractory to treatment with potent topical corticosteroids, who underwent treatment with 30 mg/d of alitretinoin for a period of 3 months. At the 1- and 3-month points, together with a clinical evaluation, the QoL of these patients were evaluated by the Dermatology Life Quality Index and visual analog scale (EQ5D-VAS). Results The oral administration of alitretinoin led to a notable QoL improvement among the patients, as shown by the statistically significant improvement in the Dermatology Life Quality Index and in the EQ5D-VAS after 1 and 3 months of therapy.